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Our heartfelt prayers go out to all the victims and survivors of the recent earthquake in Nepal.

We are dedicating our weeklytong chöto those who have died, been injured, or are left behind with so much suffering. May those who have died be reborn in Dewachen, and may those who survived find aid, comfort, and be protected from all danger.

Click here to see the latest update (video) of this auspicious project.

About the Maitreya Center

The Maitreya Center is a new meditation hall and community space being built on the grounds of KTC Monastery, overlooking the Hudson River. The center is slated to be a 35,000 square foot, two-story building with Tibetan-style Vajrayana and Chinese-style Mahayana shrine halls, as well as a lower-level gathering hall. It will bring together these traditions to promote multicultural and interdenominational understanding. Functionally, this new building provides much-needed space for our growing community. It also will include accommodations for visiting teachers and monastic residences, as well as facilities for Dharma projects, including the preservation of ancient texts.

The purpose of the Maitreya Center, however, extends beyond expanding our physical facilities; it aims to foster spiritual community. This purpose derives from the example of the Buddha, who taught both monastic and lay practitioners of different backgrounds more than twenty-five hundred years ago in ancient India. By establishing the Maitreya Center, we too can bring together persons of diverse backgrounds with the common aim of benefiting others through spiritual practice, global awareness, and engaged action.

"Lama Norlha has aspired to construct a Monastery in the United States of America. I feel very pleased about this meritorious activity and would like to encourage everyone to support him in this noble endeavor."

"Kagyu Thubten Chöling monastery, under the guidance of the Venerable Lama Norlha, is building a traditional vajrayana Buddhist monastery in Wappingers Falls, New York, United States of America.

"The Maitreya Center will be a 35,000-square foot monastery, which will bear the unique distinction of including a Mahayana shrine hall with an Amitabha statue, as well as a main shrinehall housing three statues: Shakyamuni Buddha (10 feet) Guru Rinpoche (10 feet) and Maitreya Buddha (32 feet). This center will be a model for bringing together different religious tradtions and cultures to share both their common heritage and their diversity. Inclusive, cooperative projects of this nature are especially important during these times of increasing conflict throughout the world, in order to promote understanding, tolerance, and peace.

"The main focus of the Maitreya Center will be the study and practice of the Buddhadharma according to the unbroken lineage of the Buddha's teachings creating a place where lay people can work with traditional monastics to learn about and practice the sacred Dharma. The center will also serve the wider community. In addition, construction of a monastery promotes a harmonious environment in the country in which it is established and throughout the world. Participating in such a noble project financially or with any other type of support is very meritorious and [a] great honor.

"In accordance with the sincere request of the Venerable Lama Norlha and KTC monastery and its trustees, the Maitreya Center will be a branch of the Palpung Congregation of Vajrayana Buddhism, in New York, USA.

Since I came to America in 1976, this country has been very kind to me and my students. It has given us the freedom to practice the Buddha’s teachings—an ever rare opportunity. Although there are many ways we may seek to help others both materially and spiritually, it is through the offering of Dharma that we create the conditions for sentient beings to connect with the Buddha’s teachings and awaken to their true nature, which is no different than the Buddha. For this reason, I feel there is no better offering to the American people than building the Maitreya Center.

The Maitreya Center is meant to inspire compassion and peace, which is especially important in these difficult times. Maitreya, the next buddha, is renowned for his loving compassion towards all beings. In fact, the name Maitreya means loving-kindness—impartial, great compassion for all. Similarly, when we cultivate love and compassion within our own hearts and minds, it will bring peace to the country and create the stability for the Dharma to flourish.

As disciples of Dorje Chang Kalu Rinpoche, we have a deep spiritual bond with Chamgon Kenting Tai Situpa, the direct emanation of Buddha Maitreya and the main teacher to His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa. Tai Situ Rinpoche is the spiritual master of two major Buddhist institutions—Palpung Monastery in Tibet and Palpung Sherab Ling in India—each of which house a Maitreya statue in the monastery’s shrine hall. Kalu Rinpoche, who is the source of KTC Monastery’s traditions and practices, received his training under the guidance of the previous Tai Situ Rinpoche at Palpung Monastery.

Both Tai Situ Rinpoche and Kalu Rinpoche have said that dedicating a shrine to the future Buddha Maitreya in America will greatly benefit the country and its people. The thirty-two foot Maitreya statue that will be the crowning jewel of the main hall has already arrived and awaits the completion of the Maitreya Center.

Any contribution you offer with pure aspiration will plant the seed for your rebirth as a disciple of Buddha Maitreya. It will also strengthen your connection with the Buddha Shakyamuni and the great masters of India and Tibet, who for centuries have practiced the Buddha’s teachings in an unbroken lineage. Thank you so much for being part of this project. We need everyone’s collective energy and support to make the Maitreya Center a reality.

With everyone's collective energy and assistance, we can make the Maitreya Center a reality. Preserving the unique spiritual heritage of the East here in the West will provide countless beings the opportunity to benefit from the wisdom and compassion of great masters of the past and present. The merit of contributing to such a project at any level is inconceivable. It is said that just as a drop of water that enters the ocean becomes part of the entire ocean for as long as the ocean remains, a person who contributes in even a small way to a virtuous project shares the benefits and blessings of the entire project.

If you would like to support this virtuous project, please Donate Online.